There is no set curriculum in the United States. Instead, each state in the US establishes its own curriculum standards. Additionally, each school district within a state may have its own set of curriculum standards. While the United States Department of Education publishes educational guidelines, it has no control over the curriculum that each state follows.
The lack of a single American curriculum causes numerous issues in various ways. While some states have excellent educational standards, others have significant educational deficiencies. Furthermore, many states’ curricula are constantly changing and altering, resulting in statewide confusion. Schools that claim to teach a “American curriculum,” on the other hand, follow the same basic guidelines regardless of a student’s age or grade.
Elementary schools, which cover grades kindergarten through five or six, are primarily concerned with social interaction. These schools teach letters, reading, and numbers through social games and exercises. Languages, arts, physical education, and science may be taught at this level in some schools, depending on the state. Students are sent to middle school, which includes grades six through eight, after finishing elementary school. The main problem with most American middle schools is that they provide students with a broad curriculum that may or may not prepare them for high school.
Middle school students are frequently divided into two groups: vocational and educational. Students who demonstrate a strong aptitude for academic work are frequently taught a variety of high school and college prerequisites. Basic vocational skills are taught to students who would be better suited for vocational occupations. While this type of split happens frequently, it does not occur in every state.
In the United States, high school is just as diverse as elementary and middle schools. To earn a high school diploma, students must complete a total of 26 credits. Science, mathematics, English, history, arts, physical education, and, in some cases, language can all be used to earn these credits. Additionally, some students may be eligible for advanced placement courses, which are only available to students with exceptional academic records. Nearly every school that follows an American curriculum grades students using a letter system, with A being the highest possible grade and “F” being the lowest.
Attempts have been made in the past to create a true American curriculum, but this has proven to be a difficult task. Different curricula are tested on a regular basis throughout the United States at any given time. Occasionally, one state may provide an appealing educational model for other states, but educationally, all states remain distinct.